Display device and method of producing same



- May 3, 1938.

D. NELSON I DISPLAY DEVICE AND METHOD OF PRODUCI NG SAME Filed July 22, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l (P g g ILL Co 5 311 f 1 /Z INVEIVTOR.

51 BY fl Y am. "9x 15 ATTORNEY.

May 3, 1938. N. D. NELSON 2,116,471

DISPLAY DEVICE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME Filed July 22, 1957 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mil 1 llllllml llllIllIlliiiiiiiilllllllllllliiiiislHHllllll ./y' I NVENTOR. BY 0mm I ATTOEY.

Patented May 3, 1938 UNITED STATES DISPLAY DEVICE AND METHOD OF PRO- DUCING SAME Norman D. Nelson, Chicago, 11]., assignor to G. Felsenthai a Sons,0hicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 22, 1937, SeriaLNo. 154,986

Claims.

This invention relates generally to display devices and to the method of, producing same, and has particular reference to the production of artistic advertising display signs.

Among the objects of my invention is the production of a display device or structure comprising a supporting base member and a plurality of display media of color-contrasting laminae secured to the supporting base member by suitable adhering means producing a unitary and attractive display structure in the form of a sign or plaque.

Another object of my invention resides in the production of display devices consisting of superimposed sheets or lamina of display material forming with a supporting base a unitary display device wherein certain of said lamina is pressed or projected into or through die-cut portion or portions of other of said lamina to thereby produce the effect or impression that such pressed-out portions of such lamina are separate parts superimposed on a supporting background; such pressed-out lamina or laminae being preferably of a color which is highly contrasting to the color of the die-cut lamina forming the background therefor.

Still another object of my invention is found in the novel method of producing such display devices whereby superimposed sheets or lamina and thesupporting base are simultaneously subjectedto heat and pressure to cause portions of certain of said lamina to expand thereby pressing or projecting portions of other of said lamina into or through die-cut portions of other lamina to thereby create the effect and impression that such pressedout portions are separate indicia or characters superimposed upon the contrasting display back-ground constituting the die-cut lamina.

A further object of my invention resides in the provision of a display device including a plurality of superimposed sheets of color contrast ing materials wherein a sheet of highly light-reflecting material, such as gold or silver foil or foil covered paper is pressed through die-cut portions of the back-ground sheet of contrasting the like, in harmonized but particularly contrasted color effects for securing the attention of the observer and for accentuating and enhancing the artistic appearance of the display as a whole or any desired part thereof, and wherein such 5 accentuated portions thereof may be caused to .appear as separate elements superimposed on other elements.

With the above and other objects in view, which will become readily-apparent in the perusal of the following specifications and'attached drawings, my invention consists in the novel combination, construction and arrangement of the parts and members shown in the'preferred embodiment in the attached drawings and described in the following specifications. The invention also includes a novel method of producing the various display devices and is particularly defined in the appended claims whereby I intend to .claim my invention as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be readily made after'the reading of my disclosure in the following specifications and study of the embodiment of my invention as shown in the attached drawings without departing from the spirit of my invention defined in the appended claims, hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the illustra-. tive design, construction, arrangement and materials herein shown and described by way of example.

In the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like or similar parts: i

Fig. 1 illustrates, in perspective view, an advertising display sign or plaque embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is-a plan view of the transparent cover;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the printed, or otherwise produced, die-cut advertising display sheet;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a sheet 01 light-reflecting material such as gold or silver foil or foil coated paper;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a sheet of adhesive material such as black extra adhesive Celluloid;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a supporting base such as a laminated wood board.

Figs. '7 to 12 inclusive illustrate the parts of a display device such as shown in Fig. l for producing the so-called "floating islands" in the lettering by a slightly modified method.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are plan views of parts similar to those shown in respectively Figs. 2, 3 and 4, except that the light-reflecting sheet of material illustrated in Fig. 9 is provided with die-cut openings representing the floating islands for the letters R-A--D-A in the word Arcadia;

Fig. 01s a plan view of an insert sheet of the same color as that surrounding the die-cut lettering in the word Arcadia;

Figs. 11 and 12 are plan views or parts similar to those shown in respectively Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 13 is a plan view 01' the floating islands" for the letters A, R, A, D and A;

I Fig. 14 is an enlarged plan view of the display device with parts broken away to show the laminae and made with my modified method, and

Fig. 15 is a slightly enlarged cross-section taken on line l5'l5 of Fig. 14.

I will now describe the method of producin the advertising display sign shown in Fig. 1 with the elements shown in Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive and such description will include a description oi the preferred materials so that the construction of the finished product will be readily apparent.

A supporting base 20 of any suitable material which will not readily warp such as a laminated wood board illustrated by Fig. 6 and oi a slightly larger size than that of the finished produce is provided. The upper face of the base 20 is preferably covered with a sheet of extra adhesive Celluloid 2| of, for example, .003 to .005 inch thickness and of the desired color suitable for the particular design 01 the display and herein shown by Fig. 5 as 01' black color.

Any other adhesive element suitable for the purpose may be substituted for the adhesive Celluloid, as for example, an adhesive emulsion composed substantially of cellulose. The adhesive composition may be brush-applied to the base 20 but I prefer touse extra adhesive sheet Celluloid because it is easily applied and has the quality of expanding under heat and pressure which facilitates the'production'ot the desired efiects as will later appear.

Having applied the adhesive sheet 2| black Celluloid to the base 20, I then lay a sheet of preferably highly light-reflecting material such as gold, silver or other colored foil, or foil-coated paper indicated by numeral 22 upon thev adhesive sheet 2|. To produce the frame-like black border indicated by 2| in Fig. 1, the sheet 22 shown in Fig. 4 is proportionately reduced in area to allow for the extended desired width of such black marginal border 2i. Obviously, a thin sheet of any other material of any contrasting color may be substituted for the foil or toil-coated paper but I have found that very attractive displays are possible by the accentuating efiect of metallic colors or foils since they are highly light-reflecting.

The next step includes the application of the display sheet 23 upon the sheet 01' I011 orfoilcoated paper 22.

The particular design and display embodied on the face of the display sheet 23 could be used for advertising purposes by a real estate business operator and the design includes a water- 'scene showing a sail boat 23 against a background oi? distanttrees, a moon or sun 23 and its reflection 23 in the water, the name Arcadia" 23 possibly designating a suburban sub-division, and the name and address of the realtor.

In the pictorial illustration shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 8 of the display, the sky,trees and water may be printed in the desired natural colors on the sheet 23 which is made of paper or bristol board, but to enhance the artistic appearance, to accentuate the efl'ect of the display and to cause portions or parts of the display to appear as separate elements superimposed on the sheet 23, as will hereinafter be more fully explained,

the portion of the sheet 23 representing the two sails oi the boat 23', the sun 23 the reflection 23 and the letters AR-CA-DI-A are cut out of such sheet 23 by die-cutting operation to provide openings in the sheet 23.- It will be noted that thesheet 23 is in the present design of an area slightly smaller than the 'area 01' the underneath sheet 22 for the purpose 0! presenting a narrow border 22 around the marginal edges of the display sheet 23.

To further accentuate and produce the desired display effects, the display sheet 23 may, in the present design, be provided with a dark blue border and back-ground 23 for the word Arcadiaf as represented by the horizontal lines.

As above stated, the letters in the word Arcadia are die-cut openings in sheet 23 and therefore small back-ground portions 25 such as shown in Fig. 13 are required to complete the configuration oi the letters A. R, A, D and A. These background portions 25 or "floating islands" are mounted with suitable adhesive upon the accentuating sheet 22 as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 4 so that same register respectively with the central portions of the openings in the leters A, R, A, D and A and are obviously oi the same color as the back-ground 23 A suitable transparent cover 24 of Celluloid 0! about .005 inch thickness, or other suitable transparent material such as heavy Cellophane 01' a size to cover the entire supporting base 20 is then applied over the superimposed sheets, whereupon the assembled device is then placed in a press for simultaneous heat and pressure treatment.

A pressure of about 3000 pounds per square inch and heat 01' about 280 degrees F. is simultaneously applied to the laminae oi the display plaque for a period oi from 15 to 20 minutes whereupon the press is cooled, as by cold water, while the display plaque remains under pressure during such cooling of the press. The total cycle of the hot and cold pressure treatment averages from 25 to 30 minutes.

After such hot and cold pressure treatment the plaque is removed from the press.

Figs. '7 to 12 inclusive illustrate the necessary parts in a slightly modified construction and method employed for producing the above-described display plaque. This modified method and construction is due solely to the diflerent manner by which the "floating islands 20 are efiected or produced. It will be noted that the materials shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12 are similar to the materials described in the above specification and shown respectively in Figs 2, 3, 4, and 6. In the modified construction and method, the application and careful spotting of the islands" shown in Fig. 13 is entirely dis-' pensed with by die-cutting the accentuating sheet 22 to provide openings 25 therein oi the shape or form of the floating islands 25 at such points that such die-cut openings 25 will precisely reg ister within the letters A, R, A, D and A when the display sheet 23 is properly applied over such sheet 22 and by further providing an extra background sheet 26 beneath the sheet 22 which background sheet 26 is obviously of the same color as the back-ground 23 surrounding the word. Arcadia" so that the islands" produced by the visible portion oi the back-ground sheet 28 exposed through such die-cut portions 25 will appear as though portions of the back-ground 23 It may be noted that the extra back-ground sheet 28 as shown in Fig. 10 is slightly smaller in dimensions than the accentuating sheet 22,

' however, in the present design a portion of such sheet 28 of an area slightly larger than that oi the word Arcadia would suflice to produce the desired effect. i

The display device shown in Fig. 1 and preferably constructed with the materials illustrated in Figs. 7 to 12 inclusive is shown more clearly in the sectional illustration in Fig. 14.

In the production of my invention in the two embodiments illustrated by the materialsshown in one group by Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive and Fig. 13, and in the modified construction illustrated by the group of materials shown in Figs. 7 to 12 inclusive, the principal novel results and features of my invention attained in the particular design of sign or plaque shown in Figs. 1 and 14 may be briefly stated as follows: 7 Assuming that a single sheet of gold foil or gold foil-covered paper of a 40 to 60 pound weight indicated by reference numeral 22, is used, the die-cut portions of the display sheet 23 representing the two sails oi the boat 2%, the sun 23*, the reflection 23 and all of the letters in the word Arcadia as well as the marginal projection 22 of the sheet 22 extending around the display sheet 23, will all be accentuated-and made to appear as though such elements are separate and distinct bodies superimposed upon the pictorial display sheet 23, since in the applied pressure and heat treatment the adhesive element or Celluloid was caused to expand and through such expansion has exerted suflicient pressure against the accentuating highly light-reflecting sheet 22 to cause the portions of same underlying such cut-out portions of the display sheet 23 to be projected into or through such die-cut openings into contact with the underside of the transparent Celluloid cover 2i.

Due to the light-reflecting faces and particularly the margins of the pressed-out gold colored elements and particularly when the surrounding colors are of a highly contrasting color, the resuiting superimposed eifect also creates the impression that the faces of such elements extend into a plane disposed above the face of the display sheet. 1

Another feature of my invention which will now be readily understood is found in the simple and efiective manner of securing such laminae to the supporting base 20 by the marginal adhesion of the Celluloid cover M to the exposed margin of the adhesive sheet 20 as more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 14.

It may be noted that cross-sections of display plaques made in accordance with my invention show by means of a magnifying glass that the portions of the lower sheet of adhesive Celluloid under the die-cut openings of the display sheet 28 expand under the heat and pressure treatment and that such expansion of the adhesive Celluloid 2! acts to press portions of the color-accentuating sheet 22 into the die-cut openings of the display sheet 23 intoengagement with the lower face of the transparent Celluloid cover 24. It also appears that, under such heat and pressure treatment, portions of the lower face of the transparent Celluloid cover 24 are caused to be extended into small crevices existing between the marginal sides of the extended portions of the sheet 22 of color-accentuating value and the margins of the die-cut openings in the display sheet 23.

I claim:

1. The method of producing a display device which consists in the steps of applying a layer of heat-expansible adhesive material to a supporting base, then applying asheet of highly lightrefleoting material 01' reduced area upon said adhesive material, then applying a display sheet upon said light-reflecting material, said display sheet being of an area less than that of said lightreflecting material and having die-cut openings therein, then applying a'sheet of transparent material of an area equal to that of the supporting base to cover all of said layers of material, then simultaneously heating and compressing said supporting base and said layers to cause an expansion of said adhesive material to thereby cause a projection of portions of said light reflecting material into said die-cut openings of said display sheet and causing an adherence of the peripheral "applying a display sheet upon said colored sheet,

said display sheet having die-cut openings therein representing certain indicia, then applying a transparent cover sheet of flexible material upon said display sheet, and then applying pressure and heat upon and to said laminae to cause portions of said colored sheet to be projected into said die-cut openings of said display sheet and to cause an adherence of the peripheral margin of said transparent cover to an exposed peripheral margin of said adhesive material, and finally cooling the press to thereby cool the device while the device is still under pressure therein.

3. The method of producing a display device which consists in the steps of applying a layer of adhesive material to a face of a supporting base,

then applying a sheet of colored material upon said adhesive material, then applying a sheet of highly light-reflecting material of marginal dimensions less than those of said adhesive sheet of material upon said sheet of colored material, said sheet of light-reflecting material having perforations therein, then applying upon said light-reflecting sheet a display sheet having diecut openings therein representing desired display indicia, said perforations in said light-reflecting material being disposed to register within portions of said indicia-representing openings of said display sheet and the portion of said display sheet surrounding said indicia-representing openings being of the same color as that of said sheet of colored material, then applying a transparent cover of flexible material upon said display sheet, then simultaneously heating and compressing said laminae to cause portions of said light-reflecting sheet to be projected into said indicia,-representing openings of said display sheet and portions of said sheetof colored material to be projected through said perforations in said light-reflecting sheet and causing an adherence of the peripheral margin of said transparent cover to an exposed margin of said adhesive material, and then cooling the press to thereby cool the device while the device is still under pressure therein.

4. The method of producing a display device which consists in the steps of applying a sheet of adhesive Celluloid to a supporting base. then applying a sheet 01 light-reflecting foil of marginal dimensions less than those of said adhesive sheet of Celluloid, then applying a paper display sheet upon said sheet of foil, said display sheet having openings therein representing desired display indicia, then applying a cover sheet of transparent Celluloid upon said display sheet, said cover having marginal dimensions equal to those of said sheet of adhesive Celluloid, then simultaneously heating and compressing said laminae to cause an expansion of said adhesive sheet oi Celluloid to thereby cause a projection oi portions of said sheet of mu into said displaysheet openings and causing an adherence oi the peripheral margin of said transparent cover to an exposed peripheral margin of said adhesive sheet oi Celluloid.

5. A display device comprising a supportingbase member, a layer of heat-expansible adhesive material on said base member, a sheet or lightadhesive material, and portions 0! said light-' reflecting material extending into said design openings in said display sheet.

6. A display device comprising a supporting base member, and laminae consisting 01' a layer of heat-expansible adhesive material on said base member, a sheet of light-reflecting material 01' marginal dimensions less than those of said adhesive layer having spaced perforations therein, a colored back-ground sheet of an area less than said sheet of light-reflecting material disposed between said adhesive layer and said lightreflecting sheet, a display sheet having die-cut openings therein representing desired display indicia and. having a colored back-ground surrounding said die-cut openings of a color similar to that of said colored back-ground sheet, said perforations of said light-reflecting sheet registering within portions of said die-cut openings, and a cover sheet of. transparent material disposed over said display sheet and having marginal portions adhering to marginal portions oi said adhesive layer, said sheet of light-reflecting material having portions thereof disposed within said die-cut openings. g

'7. A display device comprising a supporting base member, a sheet of adhesive Celluloid mounted on said base member, a sheet 0! lightreflecting foil material of an area less than said adhesive Celluloid, mounted on said sheet oi'adhesive Celluloid, a display sheet of dimensions less than the dimensions of said light reflecting foil material, mounted on said sheet of lightreflecting foil material, said display sheet having openings defining certain indicia, a transparent Celluloid cover extending over said laminae and having marginal portions adhering to marginal portions of. said adhesive Celluloid, and portions of said light-reflecting foil extending into said openings for accentuating said indicia and creating the impression that said indicia are separate elements disposed upon the surface or the display sheet, said light-reflecting sheet of foil presenting an exposed margin around said display sheet.

8. A display device comprising a supporting base member, a sheet of adhesive Celluloid mounted on said base member, a sheet or lightreilecting toil material oi an area less than said adhesivecelluloid. mounted on said sheet 0! adhesive Celluloid, an indicia display sheet mounted on said sheet of light-reflecting foil material, said display sheet having openings therein defining the 'indicia displayed thereon, a transparent Celluloid cover extending over said laminae and l having marginal portions adhering to marginal portions oi said adhesive Celluloid, and portions or said light-reflecting foil extending into said openings for acc'entuating said indicia and creating the impression that said indicia are separate lements disposed upon the surface or the display sheet.

' 9. A display device as embodied in claim {I wherein said indicia-defining openings comprise intelligence-representing characters, a colored surface surrounding said indicia-defining openings, and visible island portions within the outer margins oi said indicia-defining openings, said island portions being of a color similar to said colored surface surrounding said indicia-defining 01 111 8 10. A display device comprising a flat supporting base member, a sheet of adhesive Celluloid mounted on the upper iace of said base member,

a sheet of light-reflecting foil-coated paper of dimensions less than those of said adhesive Celluloid, mounted on said sheet of adhesive Celluloid, a display sheet mounted on said sheet of foilcoated papensaid display sheet having indiciarepresehtingopenings, a cover sheet of transparent Celluloid extending over said display sheet and having marginal portions adhering to marginal portions of said sheet of. adhesive Celluloid, said adhesive Celluloid sheet having cross-sectionally enlarged portions disposed beneath the indicia-representing openings and portions of said foil-coated paper-above said enlarged portions oi said adhesive Celluloid being extended into said indicia-representing openings to thereby accent- .uate said indicia and create the impression that said indicia are separate elements disposed 'upon therein in the form of intelligence-representing indicia mounted on said colored sheet; a cover of transparent material mounted on said laminae, extending to the marginal edge of said layer of adhesivematerial and having marginal portions adhering to marginal portions of said adhesive material; and portions of said colored sheet extending through the die-cut openings in said display sheet to the lower face of said transparent cover.

v 12. A display device as embodied in claiin l1 and including portions or the lower face of said transparent cover disposed on extending into crevices between the marginal sides of the extended portions or said colored sheet and the margins of said die-cut openings.

13. The method of producing a display device which consists'in the steps of applying a layer of adhesive material to a face of a supporting base,

then applying a sheet of a desired color of reduced area upon said layer of adhesive material, then applying a display sheet uponsaid colored sheet, said display sheet having die-cut openings therein representing certain indicia, then applying a transparent cover sheet upon said display sheet, and then applying pressure and heat upon and to said laminae to cause portions of said colored sheet to be projected into said die-cut openings of said display sheet and to cause an adherence of the peripheral margin 0! said transparent cover to an exposed peripheral margin of said adhesive material, and flnally cooling the press to thereby cool the device while the device is still under pressure therein.

14. A display device comprising a supporting base member, a layer of heat-expansible adhesive material mounted on said base member, a sheet of light-reflecting toil material of an 'area less than said adhesive material mounted on said layer of adhesive material, display sheet of dimensions less than the dimensions of said lightreflecting ioil material mounted on said sheet of light-reflecting foil material, said display sheet having openings defining the indicia displayed thereon, a transparent Celluloid cover' extending over said laminae and having marginal portions adhering to marginal portions of said adhesive material, and portions of said light-reflecting foil extending into said openings donning said indicia for accentuating said indicia display sheet.

15. A display device comprising a supporting base member, a layer of heat-expansible adhesive material mounted on said base member, a sheet of light-reflecting foil material of an area less than said adhesive material mounted onsaid layer oi. adhesive material. a display sheet mounted on said sheet of light-reflecting foil material, said display sheet having openings therein, a transparent celluloid cover extending over said laminae and having marginal portions adhering to marginal portions of said adhesive material,

and portions or said light-reflecting foil extending into said display sheet openings.

Norman D. NELSON. 

